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June 2006
28--29--30--31--01..02--03 |
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1. Thursday:
Easter
7: Saint
Justin, martyr
2. Friday: Easter 7: or Saints Marcellinus and Peter
3. Saturday: Easter 7: [Saint Charles Lwanga and companions]
Vigil
of Sunday
4 Sunday:
PENTECOST
5.
Monday: Week
9-0: Saint
Boniface
9. Friday: Week 9-0 or Saint Ephrem
Vigil
of Sunday
11 Sunday: TRINITY
SUNDAY B
Saint Barnabas, Apostle
12. Monday: Week 10-0
13. Tuesday: Week 10-0: Saint Anthony of Lisbon / Padua
Vigil
of Sunday
18
Sunday: CORPUS CHRISTI
19. Monday: Week 11-0 : Saint Romuald
21. Wednesday: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
22.
Thursday: or Saint Paulinus of Nola,
or Saints John Fisher, & Thomas More]
23. Friday: Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart
24. Saturday: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist [Heart of Mary]
Vigil
of Sunday
25 Sunday: Week XII B
26. Monday: Week 12-0
27. Tuesday: Week 12-0: or Saint Cyril of Alexandria
28. Wednesday:
Week 12-0: Saint
Irenaeus
29. Thursday: Week 12-0: SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES
30. Friday: Week
12-0 or The First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
JUNE
01: Saint Justin 574
02: Saints Marcellinus & Peter 575
03: Saints Charles Lwanga & Companions 576
05: Saint Boniface & companions 577
06: Saint
Norbert 578
09: Saint
Ephraem 579
11: Saint Barnabas, Apostle 580
13: Saint
Anthony of Padua 581
19: Saint
Romuald 582
21: Saint
Aloysius Gonzaga 583
22: Saint
Paulinus Of Nola 584
22: Saints John Fisher & Thomas More 585
24: THE
BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 586-587
27: Saint
Cyril Of Alexandria 588
27: Saint Josémaria Escrivá 588A ?
28: Saint Irenaeus 589
29: SAINTS
PETER AND PAUL 590-591
30: The First Martyrs Of Rome 592
Birth Death:
? 30s Birth of
John The Baptist
? 64? Saint
Peter
? 64? Saint
Paul
? 64 First
Martyrs Of Rome
? 100? Barnabas,
Apostle
? 166 Justin
120-140 202-203 Irenaeus
? 303/304 Marcellinus
& Pete
306? 378 Ephrem
? 400s Onuphrius
354? 431 Paulinus
Of Nola
370 444 Cyril Of
? 754 Boniface
950? 1027 Romuald
1080-1085 1134 Norbert
1195 1231 Anthony
Of
1469 1535 John Fisher
1478 1535 Thomas More
1568 1591 Aloysius
Gonzaga
1850s-1870s 1886 Charles
Lwanga & al.
1902 1975 Josemaría Escrivá
|
Category |
Name |
|
Martyrs |
Justin, Marcellinus & Peter, Charles Lwanga & Companions, Boniface & Companions, John Fisher & Thomas More, Peter & Paul, The First Martyrs of Rome |
|
Apostle |
Apostles: Barnabas, Peter, Paul |
|
Pope |
Pope: Saint Peter |
|
Bishops |
Saints Boniface, Norbert, Paulinus of Nola, John Fisher,
Cyril of Alexandria, |
|
Priests |
Saints Justin, Anthony of Padua, Josemaria Escriva |
|
Deacon |
Deacons: Saint Ephrem |
Consecrated
|
Benedictine |
Saints Boniface |
|
Camadolese |
Romuald |
|
Franciscan |
Anthony of Padua |
|
hermit |
Onuphrius |
|
Jesuit |
Aloysius Gonzaga |
|
Opus Dei |
Josemaria Escriva |
|
Premonstatneisan |
Norbert |
Lay
|
Occupation |
Name |
|
catechist |
Saint Justin |
|
soldiers |
Saints Marcellinus & Peter |
|
royal pages |
Saints Charles Lwanga & Companions |
|
Lawyer, government |
Thomas More |
Married:
Peter (widower?); Thomas More
Scriptural:
Peter, Paul, Barnabas, John the Baptist
|
Nationality |
Name |
|
Jewish |
John The
Baptist Peter
& Paul First
Martyrs of Rome? Barnabas |
|
Roman
Empire |
First
Martyrs of Justin Marcellinus
& Peter Paulinus
Of Nola |
|
Syrian |
Ephrem |
|
Egyptian |
Onuphrius, Cyril
of Alexandria |
|
English |
Boniface,
John Fisher, Thomas More |
|
German |
Boniface Norbert |
|
Italian |
Romuald,
Anthony of Padua, Aloysius Gonzaga |
|
Portuguese |
Anthony
of Padua |
|
Spanish |
Josemaría Escrivá |
|
Ugandan |
Charles
Lwanga & al. |
|
Liturgical Rank |
Name |
|
Solemnity |
Birth of
John The Baptist Saint
Peter & Saint Paul |
|
Memorial |
Aloysius
Gonzaga Anthony
Of Padua Barnabas Boniface Charles
Lwanga & Companions First
Martyrs of Josemaría Escrivá Justin Norbert Romuald |
|
Optional
Memorial |
Cyril Of
Ephrem John Fisher Marcellinus
& Peter Onuphrius
Paulinus
Of Nola Thomas More |
(Martyred 165)
This second century layman is remember for his heroic
martyrdom and his writings.
Born about the year 100 in the Holy Land, he was a pagan
until in his thirties he was converted to Christ after investigating various
philosophies, and became a lay Christian philosopher in at Rome where he was
martyred in the persecution of Marcus Aurelius about the year 165.
There are nine references in the Catechism to the writings
of Saint Justin.
06-02
(Martyred -c. 303/304)
These fourth century laymen [?] are remembered for their
heroic martyrdom during final great persecution in the year 304, and are listed
in the Roman Canon.
06-03
(Martyred 1886)
They were twelve young Ugandan, between the ages of 14 and
30, and were either part of the royal group of noble boys or part of the guard
of their pagan king.
Some were newly baptized, and other were faithful and
staunch Catholics.
When they refuses the impure desires of the king, some were
killed some slain by the swords, others burnt in fire in the year. The Martyrology says it happened in 1886, but
other sources say it was between 1885-1887.
06-05
(Martyred in 754 with 30 Companions)
This eighth century English Benedictine priest and bishop is
remembered for his heroic death with thirty others in the year 754 in an ambush
by pagans, and for his founding the Church in Germany.
He is considered to be the Apostle of Germany.
However, his contemporary, the forgotten Saint Pirmin, was
also an apostle to Germany – southern Germany where the Alamanni had
settled. He too was a bishop and the
founder of a monastery – the first on Germany soil.
(1080/1085-1134)
This eleventh & twelfth century priest is remember for his heroic life of chastity, obedience and poverty, and for the founding of the Pre/monstra/TEN/sian order, more commonly called "The Norbertines," and for his zeal as bishop of Magdenburg in Germany.
June 7, 1925.
1856-1925
Though not canonized nor beatified, he declared “Venerable” in 1975.
His life is the story of man born in abject poverty in Dublin, Ireland, one of 12 children, who was an alcoholic by the age of 13. But he was a hard worker as long as his health held out, which it did until he was 28, when he reached the bottom.
However, his faith saved him, especially his devotion to the
He gave up his drinking and became a dependable hard worker again, and lived the simple and pious life, always giving away what money he could in order to help those in need, always on his knees in prayer or reading pious books, and never missing Mass, even during the battles of the Easter uprising in 1916.
Mike McCormack, the National Historian for the Ancient Order of Hibernians, writes of his last days:
“In 1920, he was hospitalized with
a heart condition - he was 67.
Placed on light work through the
intercession of friends, he continued to work, sharing his wages until June 7,
1925.
While on his way to Mass, Matt
Talbot suffered a massive heart attack and died on a Dublin street.
At the hospital, while undressing
his body, attendants found a heavy chain wrapped around his waist, another
around his arm, and yet another around his leg.
He had worn them beneath his
clothes as a constant reminder that he was a slave to Jesus and Mary.
This remarkable discovery prompted
an inquiry which disclosed his secret life of devotion, penance, and charity.
His room contained no more than
the bare necessities of a monastic cell - an iron bedstead, a wooden mat-tress
and pillow, covered with a half-blanket, a chair, a table and a crucifix. His
meals consisted of dry bread and cold tea or cocoa taken three times a day,
with some cold fish added for dinner; he spent his leisure time in prayer and
study.
Had he died at home, he probably
would have remained unknown.
Instead, the one-time
hard-drinking Dublin dock walloper became an inspiration to those who think
they can't make it alone, or are too weak to turn their backs on earthly
pleasures.
Today [2005], there is a Matt
Talbot Movement, under the direction of the Redemptorists, which consists of
more than 160 retreat groups of more than .144,000 people in Ireland, America,
and Canada. “
Note that “Matt” Talbot turned
around his by the using the psychological trick of pledging to not to drink
first for a period of time, and finally forever, that his motivation was his love of God, and
the grace of God received from prayer and the sacraments, especially the
Eucharist.
Today, there is a Matt Talbot
Movement, under the direction of the Redemptorists, which consists of more than
160 retreat groups of more than .144,000 people in Ireland, America, and
Canada. And the source of that inspiration is Matt Talbot, a Dublin drunk who
grew up in Leopold Bloom's Dublin and was declared Venerable by his Church in
1973 because he saw God's side of life, not the self indulgent side.
06-09
(c
306-378)
This fourth century Easter deacon is remembered as a Doctor of
the Church and for his heroic life as a hermit.
He died in 373 in Syria.
06-11
This "Son of Consolation" (the meaning of his
name) apostolic era Cyprian Jew is remembered as a co-worker with the Apostle
Paul, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles in chapter 11 and elsewhere, and
is even called an "apostle" in Acts 4:36.
The special first reading for this memorial is Acts 11:
21-26; 13: 1-3, which tells us how Barnabas was helped Saint Paul,
"Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me to do the work for which I have called
them."
06-12
(c.
A.D. 400 ?)
This fifth century Egyptian hermit is not on the general
calendar, but his legend as a naked saint living in some remote part of the
Egyptian desert, mysteriously disappearing at death, ensures that he will not
be forgotten.
(1195-1231)
This twelfth to the thirteenth century Franciscan priest is
remembered in Portugal -- where he was born and grew up, and in Italy where he lived
most of life until he died in 1231 at the age of 36 -- as the first Franciscan
to teacher theology, as a powerful defended of the Faith, and as a wonderful
miracle worker. He has the title of
"Evangelical Doctor" of the Church.
06-19
(c950-1027)
This ninth to the tenth century Italian priest is remember
as a saintly founder of what would become the Camaldolese order hermits. He died in his hermitage near Camadoli, Italy
in 1027.
06-21
(1568-1591)
This young Jesuit is remember for his renunciation of his
life as a high Italian nobility for the evangelical councils of poverty,
chastity, and obedience, and vows of the Jesuits. While he was preparing for the priesthood, he
died at Rome, helping victims of a deadly epidemic,. Because of his age at death -- twenty-three -
he has been declared a Patron of Youth.
06-22a
(c.
354-431)
This fourth to the fifth century bishop is remembered for
his conversion from a luxurious pagan life as Prefect of Rome, lawyer, married
man to a baptized Christian and later bishop of Nola near Naples, Italy, where
he lives as a model bishop, poor, chaste, and complete dedication to his
flock. Many of his letters to Saint
Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose and Martin of Tour and others are preserved, and
also some of his Christian poetry.
06-22b
(Martyred 1685)
These
fifteenth to sixteenth century Englishmen were very different -- Fisher was a
bishop and More was a rich married man of high political status -- , but both
were martyred for the same reason: they would not acknowledge King Henry VIII
as head of the Church in England.
Bishop John
Fisher (1469-1535)
was the well-known bishop of Rochester, England, and the only English bishop
willing to die rather sign the Act of Supremacy.
Not only that, but he also failed his king in not being able
to obtain an annulment of his marriage to Catherine, and indeed he opposed
Henry's divorce.
He sang the Te Deum as the headsman’s axe fell.
Thomas More (1478-1535)
Even if Thomas More were not remembered as a martyr for His
conscience and Faith, he would be remember as being a Lord Chancellor of
England, and a famous writer.
He tried to assure Henry -- and his own family -- that he
was a loyal subject of the King but also a loyal Catholic of the Pope. He also opposed Henry's divorce and resigned
his office as Lord Chancellor.
Thomas’ last words before he was beheaded were that he was “the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
06-24
Gloria,
3 readings; Creed, special preface
Background
John the Baptist is the only Saint -- except for Mary -- who
has two memorials.
Today's we celebrate his birth, and on August 29 we
celebrate his martyrdom,
The authoritative
summary of his role is in #523 of the Catechism:
St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare His way.
(Acts 13:24, and Matthew 11:13)
"Prophet of the Most High”, John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last.
(Luke 1:76; 7:26, and Matthew 11:13)
He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother's womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being "the friend of the bridegroom," whom he points out as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
(John 1:19; Acts 1:22, Luke 1:41; 16:16, and John 3:29)
Going before Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah," John bears witness to Christ in his preaching. by his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom.
(Luke 1:17; and Mark 6:17-29)
The Preface of John the Baptist is also very informative:
“Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We praise your greatness as we honor the prophet
who prepared the way before your Son.
You set John the Baptist apart from other men, marking him out with special favor.
His birth brought great rejoicing.
Even in the womb he leapt for joy, so near was man's salvation.
You chose John the Baptist from all the prophets to show the world its redeemer,
the lamb of sacrifice.
He baptized Christ, the giver of baptism, in waters made holy by the One Who was baptized.
You found John worthy of a martyr's death, his last and greatest act of witness to your Son.
In our unending joy we echo on earth the song of the angels in heaven,
as they praise your glory for ever:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.”
The Gospel selection for the vigil of the solemnity gives us
the beginning of the story of John the Baptist.
An angel says Elizabeth is to be a mother
"Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will
be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor
strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy
Spirit even from his mother's womb,
and he will
turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit
and power of Elijah
to turn
their hearts toward their children,
and the
disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the
Lord." (Luke 1:5-17)
Themes:
The Greatness of
John; His Role: leading others to Christ
Isaiah 49:1-6 - words that apply to Jesus, and to John the Baptist
Salvation promised
for Israel and the world
“For now the Lord has spoken, who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, He says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 13: 22-26 - Paul preaches in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia
The Role of John
the Baptist
“John
heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of
Israel;
and as
John was completing his course, he would say,
`What do
you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold,
one is coming after me. I am not worthy
to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'
Luke 1:57-66, 80 - background to Christ’s birth
Elizabeth says his
name will be John
"No.
He will be called John."
Zachariah writes
that his name is John
"John
is his name,"
What others said
"What,
then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
06-26
(1902-1975)
This twentieth century Spanish priest is the founder of the
controversial Opus Dei, "The Work of God," which is founded in Madrid
in 1928, with the approval of the Church.
Obviously, the communists opposed him during the Spanish Civil War, but
even after that he and the Opus Dei continued to be opposed not only by those
outside the Church but even by many in the Church. He was canonized in 2002, and the Opus Dei
has is own personal diocese, known as a "Prelature" directly under
the Pope, but which works with the various territorial dioceses in which its
Opus Dei members live.
It is claimed that it is an ultra right secret society, but
neither charge is true, though is conservative and does have an air of secrecy
connected with it.
It's members, both lay and clerical has the task of bringing
Christ into their work and are lead by the spirit of Saint Josémaría.
The "Priestly of the Holy Cross" is the sacerdotal part of the Opus Dei,
Web:
http://www.opusdei.org
06-27
(370-444)
This Egyptian
bishop (Patriarch of Alexandria) is remembered for his defense of the divinity
of Christ again the teaching of the bishop Nestorius, Patriarch of
Constantinople.
He is remembered for his opposition to Nestorianism which
taught that Jesus was both a human person and a divine person, united somehow
voluntarily, and therefore Mary was simply the mother of the human Jesus, not
the Mother of God which was contrary to the teaching of the third ecumenical
council, the Council of Ephesus, in 431.
Unfortunately, he is also remembered for two very
controversial acts. The first is his
occasioning a riot which resulted in the brutal murder noted woman teacher of
neo-platonism, Hypathia. The second
controversial act was his expulsion of the Jews from the city.
What exactly lead up to this violence is not known or the
expulsion, but it not because of these acts that the Church considers him to be
a Saint, and that in 1883 he was declared a Doctor of the Church. His personal faithfulness to Christ and his historic
defense the Mary divinity of
Another strange part of his story is his involvement in the
deposing of Saint John Chrysostom as Patriarch of Constantinople.
Saint Cyril is cited twice in the Catechism: Com. #738 on
the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church, and #1381 on believing the words of
Jesus when He speaks of His Body and Blood.
Note that there is another Saint Cyril - Saint Cyril of
Jerusalem (c.315-386) whose memorial is March 18.
06-28
This eastern missionary to southern France and bishop of Lyon, died around 202. He was a disciple of Saint Polycarp, and his orthodoxy is reflected in his famous defense of the faith, Adversus Haereses. Against the Gnostics, he defended the Church from the Bible and insisted upon Roman tradition as the norm of apostolic teaching. He is traditionally called a martyr, but historically there is no record of his martyrdom.
SOLEMNITY.
Red,
special prayers, Gloria, 3 readings, Creed
Background
Both died at
Rome, Peter around the year 64, and Paul
around the year 67.
They are the
co-founders of the Church of Rome. The
Mass has three special readings.
The famous historian Eusebius (260?340?)
wrote:
“It is recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself [1] and that Peter also was crucified in Nero's time, and that there was the inscription of “Peter and Paul” over the cemeteries there, which has prevailed to the present day.
Confirming the story
this story also is a man of the Church named Cajus, who lived in the time of
Zephyrinus, Bishop of Rome.[199-217, 14th bishop after Peter]
“When
[Peter] he had overcome Simon [Acts 8:9 ff.], he, in sowing the doctrine of God
among the people, and in teaching chastity, disturbed the minds of the non-Jews.
And when
these went after him, the Christians begged him to withdraw himself for
temporarily.
Although
he was desirous to suffer, he was moved at the sight of the people praying that
he save himself in order to continue instructing and strengthening his people.
“” (Ecclesiastical History: Book
2, chapter 25).
The famous bishop of Milan, Saint Ambrose (c. 339-397, feast day Dec. 7), in writing
against a theologian named Auxentius, gave us the basis for the “Quo vadis?”
story.
“At night [Peter] begins to leave the town, and seeing
Christ coming to meet him at the gate, and going the city, says: “Lord, where are You going?”
Christ
answers: “I am coming to be crucified again.”
Peter
understood the divine answer to refer to his own cross,
for Christ
could not be crucified a second time,
for He
had put off the flesh by suffering the death that He had undergone,
As to His death, He died to sin once and for all. As to His life He lives for God.”
(Romans 6:10)
So Peter
understood that Christ was to be crucified again in the person of His servant.
Therefore
he willingly returned, and, when the Christians questioned him, told them why
he returned.
He was
immediately seized, and glorified the Lord Jesus by his cross.”
Acts
12: 1-11
Persecution
In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
The Angel of the Lord appears
"Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.
2
Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Paul knows his end is near
I Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the
time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the
race.
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the
Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to
me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. [...] “The Lord will rescue
me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly
kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew
16:13-19
The Big Question : "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
Peter Answers the Question : "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus promises
"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against
it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven."
06-30 -
(Nero’s Persecution AD 64).
The Roman emperor Nero blamed the burning of Rome in the
year 64 on the Christians and many were tortured and slain. The pagan writer
Tacitus testifies to these events in his "Annales" (15, 44), as does
Pope Saint Clement, in his letter to the Corinthians (chapters 5-6).
These were the first Martyrs of Rome. There would be many more. It would be only
in the beginning of the fourth century that on-and-off persecution of
Christians in the Roman Empire would cease during the pontificate of Saint
Melchiades (or "Miltiades") (311-314, #32).
Friday after
Ezekiel 34:11-16 - The Divine Shepherd
“As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among
his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.”
Romans 5:5b-11 -
The Love of God
The love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has
been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the
appointed time for the ungodly.
Luke 15:3-7 - Christ the Good shepherd
“What man among you having a
hundred sheep and losing one of them
would
not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he
finds it?”
Memorial
The Gospel for this memorial is proper.
The first reading is either from the Common of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, or:
Isaiah 61:9-11 - the thoughts of Mary
I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my
soul,
for he has clothed me with a robe
of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride
bedecked with her jewels.
Luke 2:41-51 - the Child Jesus is lost in the
Mary’s
astonishment
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking
for you with great anxiety.”
Her
Son’s astonishment
“Why
were you looking for Me? Did you not
know that I must be in My Father’s house?”
[1] The tradition that Paul suffered martyrdom in